MIB Group, Inc. ("MIB") is an association of U.S. and Canadian life insurance companies. It is a leading provider of information and database management services to the financial services industry.

Organized in 1902, MIB’s core fraud protection services have protected insurers, policyholders and applicants from those who would attempt to conceal or omit information relevant to the sound and equitable underwriting of life, health, disability, and long term care insurance. Fair pricing of insurance products is largely dependent upon accurate "risk assessment," "risk classification," and "risk selection." And all of these are dependent upon obtaining accurate information from persons applying for insurance.

The vast majority of persons who apply for life, health, disability, and long term care insurance are honest and forthright in their answers to questions on insurance applications and medical exam forms concerning any medical conditions they currently have as well as their health histories. That would additionally include information on any other hazards to which they may be exposed at work or at play.

Unfortunately, a relatively few attempt to circumvent the process. In doing so, they increase the costs of the insurance company, which, in turn, may result in reduced dividends for existing policyholders and increased premiums for applicants. By detecting or deterring those few, MIB acts as a "behind the scenes advocate" for most persons who are seeking to purchase life, health, disability, and more recently, long term care insurance.

MIB Group, Inc. is a non-stock, not-for-profit membership association of life insurance companies incorporated in Delaware.

MIB FAQs

What does MIB do?Their mission is to detect and deter attempts by applicants of life, health, disability, or long-term insurance who would omit or misrepresent facts. MIB’s presence has made it more difficult to omit or conceal significant information, and as a result, far fewer applicants try.

How does MIB work?MIB is a membership association of approximately 600 companies. When an underwriter at a member company has an applicant with a condition considered to be significant to his or her risk classification, this information is then reported to MIB in the form of a code. MIB does not receive the applicant’s entire medical record. The record is nothing more than a "red flag" to alert an underwriter to look closer. The underwriter must make a determination of whether or not the condition is significant. The record is kept on file for 7 years.

Where does MIB get information?Member companies send information to MIB when they receive an application for life, health, disability, or long-term care insurance. The applicant receives a written notice that authorizes the insurance company to release the information to MIB.

What type of information is included in MIB records?Their records include medical conditions represented by one or more of about 230 codes. Conditions most commonly reported include: height and weight, blood pressure, ECG readings, and laboratory test results if, and only if, these facts are considered significant to health or longevity. There are also five codes for non-medical information that might affect insurability. Examples of non-medical information significant enough to warrant a report to MIB include: an adverse driving record, participation in hazardous sports, or aviation activity.

Where are MIB records used?When a consumer applies to a MIB member company for life, health, disability, or long-term care insurance coverage, the company may check for a record at MIB. If there is a record, it is sent in coded form to authorized personnel only at the company making the request. The purpose of the report is to detect and deter applicants from omitting or misrepresenting significant facts. The insurer who receives a record from MIB will compare it with information provided by the applicant. If the information in the MIB record is inconsistent with other information, the insurer may conduct further investigation.

How long are MIB records kept?MIB records more than seven years old are deleted from out files.

Who has access to MIB records?Privacy concerns at MIB and member companies are taken very seriously. Only authorized personnel are authorized to access information. MIB has strict confidentiality rules that member companies agree to follow.

Why does disclosure take up to 30 days?When a Request for Disclosure is received, we conduct a search of our files to determine if there is a record on the applicant. If we find a record, we verify the record contents and the identity of the person requesting the disclosure with the insurance company that sent us the information. Only then do we decode the record and send it to the applicant. All this activity reflects the commitment of MIB and our members to maintain accurate MIB records and to make disclosure only to the subject of the record. These careful steps can take up to 30 business days - but we often beat that target!

How can my record be changed if it is wrong?If you question the accuracy of information in our files, you may write the MIB Information Office (MIB, Inc., P.O. Box 105, Essex Station, Boston, MA 02112) and seek a correction in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

How can I find out if MIB has a record on me?MIB is committed to the philosophy that every consumer should be entitled to know the contents of his or her record maintained by MIB, and to correct any inaccurate or incomplete information in the record. This benefits both the consumer and MIB by insuring that MIB record information is as accurate as possible.

There is a charge of $8.50 for each request for a Record Search and Disclosure. This charge only partially covers MIB’s costs in providing Record Search and Disclosure and correction services. MIB will waive its charge for Record Search and Disclosure if you received a written notification of "adverse action" from an MIB member insurance company. The notification must name MIB as an information source, and the request for Record Search and Disclosure must be made within 60 days of receipt of the notification of adverse action. "Adverse action" generally means that your application for life, health, disability, and long term care insurance had been denied, or that the premium had been increased as a result of the investigation initiated by the insurance company because of the MIB record. See Section 615 of the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act for specific details.

To qualify for the waiver of the service charge, you will need to include a copy of the letter of adverse action that you received from the MIB member insurance company with your request for Record Search and Disclosure. Your request must be received within 60 days of the date of the adverse action letter.

Upon receipt of your (a) request for a Record Search and Disclosure, and (b) proper identification, MIB will initiate the disclosure process and provide you with:

the nature and substance of information, if any, that MIB may have in its files pertaining to you;

the name(s) of the MIB member companies, if any, that reported information to MIB; and,

the name(s) of the MIB member companies, if any, that received a copy of your MIB record during the twelve-(12) month period preceding your request for disclosure.

To proceed, please complete, sign and submit your "Request for Record Search and Disclosure" form and the appropriate payment of $8.50* (U.S. Residents only), payable by check, money order, or credit card. Disclosure will be made within 30 days of receipt of a completed "Request for Record Search and Disclosure" form at our offices.

*Note: or adverse action letter from the insurance company that identifies MIB as an information source.